Vibratory membrane for phonographs.



PATENTTED FEB. 10, 1903.

v. L. GARCIA. VIBRATORY MEMBRANE FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1902.

2 SHEETS-8HBET 1.

N0 MODEL.

m: Norms versus 00., PHOTCLLITHQ, wnwmm'on. n c.

PATENTED FEB. 10, 1903.

V. L. GARCIA. v VIBRATORY MEMBRANE FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

N0 MODEL.

THE nonms PEYERS co., Pum'qurna. wnsmnafou. a. c.

1 UN E STATES- PATENT ()FFICE.

VIRGILIJO'LOPEZQARCIA, OF BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

y Bf TQRY BRANE FOR PHONIOGRAPHS.

'SPEGIFICA'I'ICN forming part of Letters fatent No. 720,127, dated February 10, 1903. Application filed Pebrnary gilp l go tii .Srial No. 96,126. (No model.

To all whom it mayconcern: A

civil engineer, a citizen of Argentina, residing at No. 745 Oalle Tucuman, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, have invented new and useful Improvements in VibratoryMembranes for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification. w i

The membranes that have been used heretofore in phonographic apparatus have a comparatively small diameter, the-largest, used by Bettini, measuring only .05 meter in diameter. The reason for'not employing large membranes is that the sound-waves that they produce interfere and destroy the fundamen- 3 .tal tone, so that the advantage of a larger di-. .ameter to produce waves of-greater amplitude was negatived.

Now the purpose of thisin vention is to produce a membranein which the greater part of the interfering Waves are eliminated.

The simplest relation; between sounds is when they have the same number of vibrations, thereby producing unison, and when simultaneously soundediwill produce a sound of double intensity if eiin. phase and When successively sounded .produce a continuous sound. In a membrane that receives four impulses at the same time and of equal intensity and velocity there will, be four difierent centers of vibrationj.-t0 send out interfering sound-waves, and. there will be more or less alteration in the sound. It will be readily understood that the membranes of phonographic apparatus may be so connected to the reproducing-style to give two or more centers of vibration simultaneously moved by the style actuated by the impressions in the record-cylinder. Consequentlyexperiment must be made with membranes difiering in dimensions in order to find out the most convenient form to be given to the connecting-link to give two or more centers of vibration in the diaphragm that will give the maximum of concordant interference or harmonious relations. This is readily done by causing the membrane to vibrate while covered with a thin layer of fine sand or colored water, when the zones of vibration will be clearly defined, as well as the nodes. It is very important to know the tone of the membrane itself, as such membrane will better reproduce sounds of similar tone.

I -Each: membrane of different dimensions or Be it known that LVIRGILIO LOPEZ GARCIA,

material will-have its specialconnecting-link to the stylussituated in accordance with the interference produced and the tone of the membrane itself. There will be membranes which-comprehend a limited series of sounds, 'according,-,to the kind or class of vibration thatthey produce-that is tov say, that within such limits the reproduction of the sound will be perfect. A good phonographic apparatus must therefore be provided with three or four difierent membranes, at least, which comprehendwithin their kind of vibration the greatest possible number of differentsounds. Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 shows an under sideview of the membrane adjusted in its stretching-frame. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line AB, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the drum with :the diaphragm therein, and Fig. 4 is a modification. i

In the diaphragm a, preferably, but not necessarily, made of mica, I calculate six zones of vibration, three of which are contrary or out of phase, the action of which latter is substantially destroyed by means of plasters or strips or pieces of apaper d or other substance capable of damping or entirely destroying the vibrations in the diaphragm at. 1 these points,while the three concording zones, or those whosevibrations are in phase, are connected to the stylus g by the links e, that form a spider and'are connected to the smaller central spider e. The maximum of vibration will beat the center of the diaphragm, which is connected to the stylus g by a small 'spider e'." y

The drum or stretching-frame, which may be separated from the membrane, consists, mainly of two metallic collars or frames of the same diameter 1) and 'm, the latter being provided with a tapped flange m. Between the frames b andm the membrane a is placed and fixed in position by means of the screws 0.- In order to stretch the membrane, a metallic liner 1; is introduced inside of the frame m, so that the same rests on the membrane. A tapped collar n is then screwed into the said frame m, by which the liner i will be fixed in its place to uniformly stretch the membrane.

In order to adjust the tapped collar or, this has been provided at its upper edge with slots 0, in which a knife or other instrument may be introduced for guiding the said collar. The air-chamber of the drum is formed by the space existing between the membrane and the wooden cover 7'. In order to form such air-chamber, a rubber cord tis placed around the tapped collar 71., and on the adjusting-ring t to form a tight seat is mounted the cover 7', that is provided with the socket r, in which the ball (1 for the horn rests.

Vhile effecting different experiments, I have discovered that by extinguishing the discording zones by means of perforations or holes in the membrane a clearer and more united sound is produced. This increased clearness of the sound is doubtless owing to the outlet which the said perforations offer to the air inclosed in the chamber. In effect the air inclosed in the chamber when vibrating in accordance with the membrane constantly tends to extinguish byits own vibration those of the membrane. It is therefore necessary to construct the said air-chamber as small as possible; but owing to these perforations, located precisely within the discording zones, these zones will not only be extinguishedthat is to say, interference will be eliminatedbut also an outlet will be given to the air of the air-chamber, the shocks of which diminish the intensity of the sound of the membrane.

Fig. 4 shows a planview of a membrane similar to that represented in Fig. l, but in which the discordant zones have been extinguished by means of perforations. In this case the cover should be of spherical shape in order to enlarge the air-chamber and the rubber cord should not be employed.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a phonographic reproducing device, the combination with a suitable diaphragm and its su pporting-frame, of a stylus connected to the diaphragm Where there is maximum vibration, auxiliary connections between the diaphragm and stylus at a distance from the center at points of concordant interfering vibration, means at points of discordant vibration to annul the latter, substantially as set forth.

2. In a phonographic reproducing device, the combination with a suitable diaphragm and its supporting-frame, of a stylus, a spider the diaphragm at the point of maximum vibration, auxiliary connections between the stylus and diaphragm at points of vibration in phase, and tapered strips of a suitable material secured to the diaphragm extending from the outer part toward the center at points of vibration out of phase with the others, substantially as set forth.

4. In a phonograph, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus connected to the diaphragm at points of harmonic vibration and means to destroy or dampen those portions of the diaphragm vibrating out of harmony with the fundamental, substantially as set forth.

5. In a phonograph, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus connected to the diaphragm to reproduce the fundamental and at other harmonic points, and means to dampen or destroy those vibrations out of harmony, substantially as set forth.

6. In a phonograph, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus connected to the diaphragm at its point of maximum vibration and at other points producing concordant interfering sounds, and dampers secured to the diaphragm at points of discordant interfering vibrations, substantially as set forth.

7. In a phonograph, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus connected to the diaphragm at its point of maximum vibration and at other points producing concordant interfering sounds, and strips of paper secured to the diaphragm at points of discordant interfering vibration, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VIRGILIO LOPEZ GARCIA.

Witnesses:

PEDRO ALBERTO BREUER, AN'IO. L. BELLo. 

